Behind The Blog… Featuring Anne from Doves and Roses

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far! This morning brings our 3rd Behind The Blog interview *yippee* however if you’re not sure what’s it’s all about then *click here* to find out more & how to participate!

Today I’m featuring the lovely Anne from Doves and Roses. If you haven’t already checked out her blog out, do pop over and say hi – she’s a super friendly gal who has an addiction to beauty, organic skincare and nail polish *don’t we all eh?!* I’ve known Anne for a number of weeks now and can honestly say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed catching up with all of her articles and find her such an encouraging and interactive person. So without further ado here’s more about the lady herself…

In only 5 words describe what readers can expect from your blog:

All things beauty!

What inspired you to start blogging?

Reading beauty blogs became one of my favourite hobbies over the last year or two. It is relaxing, inspiring, and very helpful: the tips and tricks I have picked up have improved the way my makeup looks and organic skincare has made my skin look better than ever. I decided to give blogging a go to share the love and the experience has certainly been very rewarding so far.

Do you ever suffer from Blogger’s Block & if so how do you overcome it?

Not so far, but then I am relatively new at blogging and still have a lot of ideas. I do like to experiment with new topics, I recently tried out a travel tips post for example.

What’s your favourite post to date? *Please include link*

My post describing my nightly skincare ritual and briefly reviewing the products I currently use *Click here to read*

I think creating and sticking to this ritual religiously and using organic skin care products wherever possible has really made an incredible difference for the condition of my skin, and I really hope sharing this on my blog may inspire others.

Describe your everyday style:

Lately, I have been suffering from a knitwear obsession: mainly beautiful finely knitted tops in a vintage style for work or chunky knitted long cardigans in my spare time.

What are your current top 3 beauty items?

1) Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil

2) Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre in 20 Clair – Translucent

3) Essence Stays No Matter What waterproof eyeliner pen

How do you like to relax & unwind after a stressful day?

I am a true couch potato: I love sitting down at night and relaxing with a cup of tea and my favourite tv show (currently the Walking Dead). If it has been really stressful, I also enjoy doing a bit of Body Balance – a combination of yoga, pilates, and tai chi – at my gym.

Describe your ideal Saturday night:

Relaxing dinner with friends, followed by a trip to a nice pub/Belgian beer care/cocktail lounge. A great excuse to dress up and play around with makeup.

Ice-cream! I love the stuff way too much and whenever I have had a really bad day I reward myself with a tub of ice-cream which I eat in a single go while lounging on my couch (yes, there is that couch again).

What’s your most cherished childhood memory?

Family holidays, it is a little difficult to pick one particular moment! I vividly remember an outing to Bastogne (Belgium) with my parents and little brother, where we accidently ordered really large ice-creams and ended up with ice-cream and chocolate sauce all over our faces – and some awesome photos.

What was your favourite school subject?

History! I have always loved the way history tells stories and connects you to past people and events. I just wish our high school curriculum would have discussed a bit less World War 2 and a bit more fascinating non-European history.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I would love to be a mum! I recently welcomed my first niece, an amazing experience which made me realise that, whatever else happens, I hope I will one day be lucky enough to become a parent myself.

-What top 5 things are on your bucket list?

1) Living in London

2) Hiking the Coast to Coast Walk in Scotland

3) Writing a book

4) Road tripping along the pan-American highway

5) A course in nature/landscape photography

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

Perhaps not very inspirational, but whenever I feel a bit insecure I read this quote from Ricky Gervais: “The best advice I’ve ever received is, ‘No one else knows what they’re doing either’.”

Name 3 things that’s top of your Christmas list:

1) Diorskin Star Foundation

2) Estee Lauder Private Collection Jasmine White Moss

3) Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

What top tips would you give to someone who is thinking of starting their own blog?

Spend a bit of time setting up your blog and all social media before going live, be organised and plan out your posts ahead, always bring paper or a notebook to jot down ideas for posts, but above all have fun!

I wish I could click like several times….wordpress ought to have a love button as well!
Thanks so much for the oppurtunity Karen! Such a creative new way to create a community of bloggers and readers 🙂
X
Anne

Haaa – I bloomin’ love the idea of a LOVE button.. should we put that forward to WordPress??? You are so welcome Anne, such a pleasure having you feature… as you know I’m a huge fan of your blog so only too delighted to share the ‘love’ with other bloggers 😀 X

I loved reading this about you Anne! I really adore your blog and it is so nice to red an article like this:) I love the fact that you want to be a mom in 5 years, it is the best thing in the world!
Keep up the amazing blog!

And Karen this is really such an amazing post idea, it lets us get to know the amazing person behind each great blog:)

I totally agree Lynn, isn’t it a lovely aspiration to want to be a mum – hardest but most rewarding job in the world 🙂 Thank you so much for your lovely comment, it means so much to know my offerings are appreciated – I absolutely love getting to know more about the fabulous bloggers I see everyday in my reader! K x

Thanks Lynne. And I have to disagree a little Karen, being a mum might seem like a unrewarding job, but I think in the long run it is so much more rewarding than anything else I can think off… except kittens. I can always go for crazy cat lady 🙂

Oooh don’t worry – that’s what I meant Anne!! It’s such a rewarding job – hard at times yes, but totally and utterly rewarding in every way. Maybe I should’ve worded that better?! Changes your life in so many amazing ways 🙂 And yes, kittens are fab – I’m a cat lover too, a have a few of my own adorable little kitties hehe 😀 X

Oh thank goodness – I was worried you thought I meant it wasn’t!!!! lol I promise, it’s such a fulfilling experience – it also makes Christmas extra fun having a little one celebrating it too. There’s so much excitement us bigger kids tends to loose over the years 😀 Awh that’s a shame you can’t have a cat – you’ll have to get yourself to ‘Build A Bear’ and buy yourself a little stuffed one that purrs. We took Emma and she has her little marmlade cat ‘Molly’ in outfits and everything lol Very cute 😀 X

I agree Nadine, it’s so good getting to know everyone a little more – I don’t know about you but it feels like such a lovely community of friends! The support is fantastic, so chuffed to have met you all! Glad you like them huni – and to think your interview started it all off hehe 🙂 X

Strange, maybe couch potatoes inherently like zombies… or daryl dixon 😉
Good to hear about the Nars concealer… too bad I will have to wait for my trip the San Fransisco in January before going crazy at the Nars counter.